The Fashion Museum in Bath has announced its Dress of the Year for 2009. The institution has been getting an expert to choose the best outfit or look for every year since 1963, celebrating cutting edge design. Previous winners include Versaci, Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren and John Galliano.

This year they chose Lucy Yeomans, the editor of Harper’s Bazaar fashion magazine, to do the honors. She picked an Antonio Berardi dress, which was worn by Gwyneth hPaltrow for the 2008 premiere of “Two Lovers in Paris”. Speaking about the dress, Paltrow said that she was amazed by the uniqueness and construction when she tried it on. It is one her favorite dresses, she continued, and feels lucky to have had the chance to wear it on that evening in Paris.

The dress is a black and white trompe l’oeil corset featuring lace paneling. It was originally shown in the designer’s Spring/Summer 2009 collection and has been donated to the museum’s collection like all the dresses or outfits before it.

Talking about Berardi, Victoria Beckham said that he knows how to make women feel sexy but contemporary. Beckham is another of Berardi’s many clients, which also includes Beyoncé.

Councillor Terry Gazzard, the cabinet member responsible for service at the museum, said that, as the Dress of the Year 2009 shows, Bath and North East Somerset Council holds the British fashion industry in high regard, as it contributes to the reputation of the area as a center for creative industries. They are very grateful for the generous support from both Lucy Yeomans and Antonio Berardi, Gazzard continued, and they hope everyone will enjoy seeing the dress.

Tags: Bath Fashion Museum, dress of the year